PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior immunotherapy or biologic therapy for NSCLC Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy for NSCLC No prior platinum-based chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No prior radiotherapy to potential indicator lesion(s) At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery: Recovered from prior surgical procedure(s) Other: At least 30 days since prior investigational drug